• Ms. Marvel Episode 6 Review

    This review contains full spoilers for episode six of Ms. Marvel, "No Normal", now available to view on Disney+. To remind yourself of where we left off, check out our Ms. Marvel episode 5 review.

    Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) has traveled to her ancestral home of Karachi — not to mention going back to the past — but the first season of Ms. Marvel ends with the Jersey City community standing as one against a pervasive threat. Unlike the fragmented penultimate episode, “No Normal” is fast-paced, action-packed, and cohesive. It lands the emotional punches and includes a fight sequence that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

    Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (aka Adil & Bilall) return, immediately creating stylistic symmetry with the opening episode. The duo set a visually striking tone, which they utilize through sweeping camera movements. This is particularly noticeable when Kamala crosses the city using her powers and throughout the high school sequence. The mix of live-action and animated elements didn’t feature in the series as much as I might have liked, but it is fitting to see it incorporated during the planning stage of the stand against the DODC.

    After last week’s abrupt conclusion to the Clandestines opening of the veil between dimensions, it became apparent that the threat would revert to the agency claiming to have US citizens' best interests as their mandate. In this case, the DODC take on a similar role to Homeland Security, and their surveillance and subsequent search of the mosque are not trying to be subtle in their parallels to the real world.

    Kamala is the first Muslim superhero in the MCU, and her community is subject to the same prejudicial scrutiny as those in the real world. The moment when everyone has their IDs ready before Agent Deever (Alysia Reiner) even asks to see them says so much without having to utter a word. Deever’s overzealous actions and refusal to obey an order from a superior later in the episode also feel pointed.

    The action set-piece is a surefire crowd-pleaser

    Weaving recognizable experiences within the fantastical world help keep Ms. Marvel grounded. It is a Pakistani American coming-of-age story and a superhero origin. Atrocities like the Partition inform Kamala’s past; however, her present is not free from prejudice or snap judgments. The deep-rooted power of a community grows louder in the finale, and they find a way to wield social media as a weapon for good.

    One such case is Zoe taking back control of her narrative when the DODC treat the unidentified Kamran (Rish Shah) as a threat rather than a scared teen. It remains refreshing that this character didn’t turn into the quintessential Queen Bee bully. The reason she is at the high school is rather convenient, but using her voice to get the community down to this location is an organic use of her popularity.

    The action set-piece is a classic outgunned and outmanned scenario, using methods straight out of the Home Alone and The Thomas Crown Affair playbook. It’s is a surefire crowd-pleaser and, when it drops “Anthem” by Swet Shop Boys, is a fun callback to the second episode and is another Ms. Marvel soundtrack banger.

    The amusement can only last long for so long until this plan comes apart. Kamala and Kamran’s heart-to-heart adds to the romantic tension, before being interrupted by Bruno. I was concerned his jealously would manifest in a way that I would describe as “pulling a Xander” from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but Ms. Marvel continues to zig when I expect it to zag, and Bruno doesn’t sell out his friend because of envy.

    The effects-driven second half of the fight is not as attention-grabbing as everything that occurs inside the school. However, Kamran’s muddle of emotions after finding out his mother is dead is well performed by Shah, as is the quiet moment in the chaos when Kamala implores that he heads to the harbor. It is a somewhat expected turn as he eventually retreats, and the highlight occurs within the cosmic energy bubble rather than the fight scene itself. The community forming a protective shield around Kamala is reminiscent of Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man, but thankfully isn’t as cheesy as the New Yorkers against Green Goblin moment.

    Every scene is infused with the pain and joy that has come before

    Ms. Marvel remains at its strongest when humor and heart are combined, which is no more accurate than when Kamala breaks her big superhero news to her family. Of course, Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff) has already spilled and this mother/daughter dynamic, with its ups and downs, is incredibly rewarding. Every scene is infused with the pain and joy that has come before, which makes what follows so joyful to watch.

    How a hero gets their costume is an integral part of the origin story. Kamala goes from wearing a forbidden Captain Marvel suit to Muneeba having one made for her, which is indicative of this powerful arc. Incorporating the red scarf is a brilliant touch that mirrors the comic book design. Costume designer Arjun Bhasin has nailed this evolution, running parallel with the teenager’s personal style, and the red Converse signifies her identity is coming together as one. What we wear speaks volumes, and Kamala is no longer getting pulled in multiple directions.

    Similarly, a conversation with her father also highlights how far they have come since she rejected Yusuf’s (Mohan Kapur) homemade costumes. It is another conversation about identity; her mother gave her the costume she now wears and her father gifts her the meaning behind her name. Some of this dialogue is lifted straight from the first Ms. Marvel comic (which shares the same name as the season finale), but the reflection that it means “Marvel” in Urdu is new. As with any adaptation, there is an expectation that some will be unhappy about changes to the source material (particularly how Kamala gets her powers), but this only adds to the sweet moment.

    The scene where Bruno tells Kamala there is a mutation in her genes, over which a few bars of the “X-Men 97” theme play, will no doubt set pulses racing. Ditto the mid-credits scene featuring the one and only Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) herself. Both are fun teases that hint at what’s to come on the MCU slate, but there are plenty of other loose ends, including what the Khans will do next and whether Kamran and Kareem (Aramis Knight) will end up as friends or foes. Kamala is the tie that binds them, and Vellani has more than earned her place among the heroes she reveres in this exciting and emotional conclusion.

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    Modern Warfare 2 Preorders Down to £59.95 for Prime Day

    Amazon Prime Day 2022 is now officially at day two, and what a rollercoaster of a shopping event it has been. We've had items go out of stock, some come back, some brand new deals, and as many brilliant discounts as you could possibly ask for. Going into the second day, right now the most popular items are pretty easy to see. In the IGN audience, we all love the PS5 compatible WD Black 1GB SSD with Heatsink for just £99.

    Prime Day 2 has also brought with it some exciting Call of Duty news. If you've been waiting for the right time to slap down a pre-order for Call of Duty Modern Warfare II, then now is your chance. It's down to £59.95 as part of a deal for Prime Day.

    See below for the details on this Prime Day deal, as well as some other exciting deals that we think you'll love. Make sure you're following @IGNUKDeals for even more updates.

    Prime Day: Call of Duty Preorders

    There's still a bit of a wait before you can get your hands on the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, but your chances of getting a pre-order in just got a lot better. As part of Prime Day this year, Amazon are offering pre-orders for the game at £59.95. Those of you that cop this offer will also be given early access to the open beta.

    More Prime Day Deals: Best PS5 Accessory Deals in the UK

    Why not get ready for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II with some brand new PS5 accessories. PlayStation gamers are in for a real treat this Prime Day, with some absolutely incredible deals to check out. You can currently get a DualSense Wireless Controller once again for £44.99 (a deal recently seen during the Days of Play sale).

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    Mass Effect Writer Was ‘Surprised’ By Demand For Garrus Romance

    Mass Effect developer BioWare never intended to make the now-beloved Garrus a romance option in the second game and was "blindsided" when fans asked for it.

    In an "Ask Me Anything" on Reddit, Mass Effect writer Drew Karpyshyn was asked if the BioWare team always intended to bring Garrus and Tali back in the second game or if it was decided later as a response to players' positive reactions towards them.

    "We always knew they'd come back as companions," Karpyshyn said. "I was a bit surprised fans wanted the romance options. Tali I could sort of see. You never saw her face, so it was easy to imagine something vaguely human (but she had those weird feet). Garrus blindsided me," he added. "But once we saw what fans wanted, we decided to deliver."

    Though Mass Effect 2 was released more than a decade ago in 2010, conversations around the game were rekindled last year when the trilogy was released in one package as Mass Effect: The Legendary Edition.

    BioWare has also been teasing more about the fifth game recently and revealed earlier in July that Guardians of the Galaxy and Deus Ex prequel writer Mary DeMarle had joined the team as its senior narrative director.

    Mass Effect 5, for lack of an official title, was being "actively prototyped" as of February 2022 and first announced in December 2020. BioWare also released a new teaser image that includes a handful of secrets for fans to decipher and was later forced to address (and deny) an apparent leak that suggested original protagonist Commander Shepard was returning in the new game.

    Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

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    Solo’s Aldren Ehrenreich Lands Role in Upcoming Marvel Show

    Solo star Aldren Ehrenreich has landed a "key role" in Marvel's upcoming Ironheart series at Disney+, though it's currently unknown which character he will be playing.

    According to Deadline, Ehrenreich has become the latest member of the Ironheart ensemble and will star alongside previously announced cast members Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, and Manny Montana. Thorne is headlining the series as Riri Williams, "a genius inventor and creator of the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man."

    The character made waves in the Marvel universe in 2016 in the pages of The Invincible Iron Man, and will now make her MCU debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever this November. Thorne is said to have shot her scenes for the upcoming sequel before reuniting with director Ryan Coogler on the Ironheart series, for which he serves as an executive producer.

    As for Ehrenreich, he will next be seen in the Elizabeth Banks-directed thriller Cocaine Bear. He also recently wrapped production on Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer for Universal Pictures. Ehrenreich's past credits include Solo: A Star Wars Story, in which he played a young Han Solo, as well as the Coen brothers comedy Hail, Caesar! and Peacock's Brave New World.

    While Marvel hasn't yet confirmed a release window for Ironheart, the studio has plenty of Disney+ projects on the horizon. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is coming up in August as the next live-action Disney+ series in the MCU following Ms. Marvel. There are also a few specials along the way in addition to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever landing in theaters in November.

    Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

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    Doom Can Now Be Played In Doom

    As Doom continues to be played on just about every piece of technology available, things have finally gone full circle as someone has now made Doom playable in, well, Doom.

    As spotted by PCGamesN, YouTube user kgsws uploaded a video of himself modding the game into itself, before showing actual gameplay of him playing Doom within Doom on PC.

    The 'inner' Doom replaces a wall within regular Doom and mimics any movements the player makes. By walking right up to it, the inner Doom therefore takes up the full screen and can be played in its entirety before players return to playing the main game.

    While there's obviously not much practical use for this, it's just another fun and ridiculous way players have found to play the classic 1993 shooter. Other recent examples include playing Doom on a McDonald's kiosk, on Twitter, and even a pregnancy test.

    They join a much longer list that includes a LEGO brick, an ATM, a potato-powered calculator, a treadmill, and more.

    For those looking for a more modern and, dare we say, normal way to play Doom, the latest game in the franchise, Doom Eternal, would be a good choice. In our 9/10 review, IGN said: "Whether you're a new Doom fan or a veteran one, Doom Eternal is bound to delight & entertain you. It's gloriously fun."

    Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

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